The Sukhoi Su-35 (formerly Su-27M) (NATO designation: Flanker-E) is a 4.5 generation heavy class, long-range, multi-role, air superiority fighter and strike fighter. Due to the similar features and components it contains, the Sukhoi Su-35 is considered to be a close cousin of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, a specialized version of the Su-30. It has been further developed into the Su-35BM. The Su-35 is in service in small numbers with the Russian Air Force with 12 in service as of 2008.

Design and development

The Su-35 is an advanced Su-27 derivative and was initially designated Su-27M. The Su-27M development began in the early 1980s. A Su-27M prototype (T-10S-70) first flew in 1988. Changes from the Su-27 include canards, upgraded engines, new radar, and a digital fly by wire flight control system. Sukhoi changed Su-27M's designatation to Su-35 in 1993. Later Su-35 prototypes added glass cockpits and modified tailfins.

The first prototype was publicly displayed in 1992 at the Farnborough Airshow. Ten prototypes Su-35s were built with four being converted Su-27s and the others being new-builds. The prototypes were built through 1994, with service slated for 1995. The Russian Air Force received three Su-35s for evaluation in 1996.

Subsequently, the first test flights of an improved Su-35, the Su-37 "Flanker-F", began in 1996 and the transfer of existing Su-35 prototypes to this program appeared to suggest the end of the Su-35 development. Instead, the Su-37 aircraft were eventually reconverted to Su-35s.

The Su-35 shares larger wings and more powerful engines with the Su-27K naval variant and later the Su-33. Other changes from the Su-27 and Su-30 were canards, a larger nose, the greater use of carbon fibre and aluminium-lithium alloy in the airframe, along with larger, "square-off" tail fins.

Modernization

Sukhoi began modernizing the Su-35 in the mid-2000s to provide 4.5 type generation fighter making use of current technologies. The modernised Su-35 will be interim design until the fifth generation PAK FA (T-50). The first modernised Su-35 was recently presented at the MAKS-2007 air show in August 2007. The new Su-35 version first flew on 19 February 2008. The version is now in production with deliveries to customers to begin in 2009. The modernised Su-35 has been referred to as "Su-35BM" (Bolshaya Modernizatsiya - Big Modernization) by some sources, but Sukhoi simply refers to the fighter as "Su-35".

The new Su-35 omits the canards and speedbrake flap from the original Su-35 design. The new design has a reinforced airframe for longer service life and has a reduced radar signature from the front. The modernised Su-35's new nose holds an improved passive electronically scanned array radar and the aircraft featured many other upgrades to its avionics and electronic systems, including digital fly-by-wire and a rear-looking radar for firing Semi-Active Radar missiles. A two-dimensional asymmetric thrust vectoring system was tested on the Su-35 and seems to be the basis for the development of the Su-37. A new type of 2D thrust vectoring engine, the 117S, has been developed and replaces the current AL-35 or AL-31F. The Su-35 radar has an average power output of 5 kW and a peak output of 20 kW. When the H035 radar was tested on Su-30MK No. 503, the detection range was as far as 290 kilometers with 1 kW power output. The radar system can track up to 30 aerial targets and engage up to 8 of them simultaneously. Or 4 ground targets together with mapping and aerial space tracking. Can detect aerial targets with effective echoing ratio as small as 3 m2 on 400 km distance.

In July 2008, Russia has offered the Su-35 for sale to India, Malaysia and Algeria. The Venezuelan government has shown interest in acquiring several Su-35.

Variants

Su-35UB landing.

Su-35

Single-seat fighter.

Su-35UB

Two-seat fighter and trainer. Features taller vertical stabilizers and a forward fuselage similar to a Su-30.

Su-35BM

Single-seat fighter SU-27SM2 export designation is Su-35BM with upgraded avionics and various modifications to the airframe.